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VC Networking
 

MagyarMoney's picture
(Chimp, 8
 
Points)
 on 4/21/12 at 8:24pm

Looking to break into venture capital. From what I can gather about the industry, it requires networking and contacts on top of relevant experience. I understand it is very difficult to find jobs at the analyst position but I have a few questions.

What kind of events should I be attending to meet vc's? How can I meet lots of vc's while not working at a start up?

Currently I am living in Phoenix and I'm also wondering if it would be more beneficial to start out with a vc firm in silicone valley first or start here.

Tags:
BankingWaffle's picture

You need start-up experience,

IB
 
Points)
 on 4/21/12 at 9:46pm

You need start-up experience, banking experience, or consulting experience to land a VC gig. Very few firms take analysts fresh from college except mainly to do sourcing (calling random companies and trying to bring deals to the pipeline).

Cheers.

MagyarMoney's picture

BankingWaffle: You need

(Chimp, 8
 
Points)
 on 4/21/12 at 10:51pm
BankingWaffle:

You need start-up experience, banking experience, or consulting experience to land a VC gig. Very few firms take analysts fresh from college except mainly to do sourcing (calling random companies and trying to bring deals to the pipeline).

If you did start right out of college are you even learning anything that will help you move up?

USC8888's picture

MagyarMoney: BankingWaffle:

 
Points)
 on 4/22/12 at 2:28am
MagyarMoney:
BankingWaffle:

You need start-up experience, banking experience, or consulting experience to land a VC gig. Very few firms take analysts fresh from college except mainly to do sourcing (calling random companies and trying to bring deals to the pipeline).

If you did start right out of college are you even learning anything that will help you move up?

Not really, you'd be more or less a calling machine. Most of the skills at the junior-level of a VC can be attained at a call center or doing sales. Breaking into VC should be more of a long term goal

USC8888's picture

USC8888: MagyarMoney: Banki

 
Points)
 on 4/22/12 at 2:29am
USC8888:
MagyarMoney:
BankingWaffle:

You need start-up experience, banking experience, or consulting experience to land a VC gig. Very few firms take analysts fresh from college except mainly to do sourcing (calling random companies and trying to bring deals to the pipeline).

If you did start right out of college are you even learning anything that will help you move up?

Not really, you'd be more or less a calling machine. Most of the skills at the junior-level of a VC can be attained at a call center or doing sales. Breaking into VC should be more of a long term goal

The way you move up is getting an MBA & some corp. dev experience/start-up experience

MagyarMoney's picture

USC8888: USC8888: MagyarMon

(Chimp, 8
 
Points)
 on 4/22/12 at 11:15am
USC8888:
USC8888:
MagyarMoney:
BankingWaffle:

You need start-up experience, banking experience, or consulting experience to land a VC gig. Very few firms take analysts fresh from college except mainly to do sourcing (calling random companies and trying to bring deals to the pipeline).

If you did start right out of college are you even learning anything that will help you move up?

Not really, you'd be more or less a calling machine. Most of the skills at the junior-level of a VC can be attained at a call center or doing sales. Breaking into VC should be more of a long term goal

The way you move up is getting an MBA & some corp. dev experience/start-up experience

I was under the impression that if I went the MBA route without vc experience first, that it would be harder.

Are you saying start at vc, then go into ib or mc and then MBA?

BankingWaffle's picture

MagyarMoney: USC8888: USC88

IB
 
Points)
 on 4/22/12 at 12:11pm
MagyarMoney:
USC8888:
USC8888:
MagyarMoney:
BankingWaffle:

You need start-up experience, banking experience, or consulting experience to land a VC gig. Very few firms take analysts fresh from college except mainly to do sourcing (calling random companies and trying to bring deals to the pipeline).

If you did start right out of college are you even learning anything that will help you move up?

Not really, you'd be more or less a calling machine. Most of the skills at the junior-level of a VC can be attained at a call center or doing sales. Breaking into VC should be more of a long term goal

The way you move up is getting an MBA & some corp. dev experience/start-up experience

I was under the impression that if I went the MBA route without vc experience first, that it would be harder.

Are you saying start at vc, then go into ib or mc and then MBA?

No, he's saying IB or MC --> Growth Equity or Relevant Industry Corp. Dev. --> VC, with bschool thrown in somewhere.

Cheers.

TheBenevolent's picture

have you guys seen anyone do

IB
 
Points)
 on 4/22/12 at 12:45pm

have you guys seen anyone do the ibanking analyst -> start up -> VC route?

or would you say that after working for 4-5 years you are a bit on the older side for VC analyst/associate roles?

thanks

Xepa's picture

I know several Principals and

CO
 
Points)
 on 4/23/12 at 11:44am

I know several Principals and Partners at VCs, along with some associates/analysts.

I know because I've won hackathons (my name is google-able) and attend a lot of tech events. So my scope is very limited, just to preface.

They take entrepreneurs that have had successful/semi-successful startups or engineers. Especially at the early stage series A rounds, they don't even talk modeling. They talk about team background, team synergy, and market for their concept. That's what they base funding off.

Engineers help them understand the technical roadmap/bullshit killer at meetings. Successful entrepreneurs assess management teams.

The vast amount of VCs in tech are early stage; there are very few late stage funds that require modeling experience.

metrovestments's picture

Go to as many events as

VC
(Baboon, 109
 
Points)
 on 5/1/12 at 2:36pm

Go to as many events as possible for:

-All of your local business incubators
-Startup events such as 3-Day Startup, Startup Weekend
-Join or start an entrepreneur club on your campus, join the exec board, reach out/cold email local VCs to "guest speak" and meanwhile get to know them and get them to like you
-Enter business plan and business pitch competitions, do well, and network aggressively (make it a point to speak to each and every judge)
-Visit professors who have anything to do with entrepreneurship or finance, tell them you want to work for a VC, ask them for advice. Lots of times they have connections, even if a non-target school
-Work at a startup but IMPORTANT--work at one that is funded by a top VC, make sure it is small enough that you will stand out if you work longer/smarter than everyone else.
-If all else fails, cold email people who work at VC's (by doing research on LinkedIn and Google) and ask them for some tips for breaking in to the industry. Leads to informational interviews via phone, which lead to occasional spur-of-the-moment interviews about yourself. If you do well this can help lead to an interview with the firm
-There are lots of other things you can do. Be creative and get out there. Worst thing you can do is hang around online and do research--much better to a) get out of the house and meet people face-to-face or b) have conversations with people who work in VC by calling or emailing.

Hope this helps.

Life is not a "brief candle." It is a splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations

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